*Willard R. Johnson, a professor emeritus in the MIT Department of Political Science who focused his scholarly research on the political development of Africa, died in late October at age 87. Johnson served as a member of the MIT faculty for nearly 60 years, while also founding and participating in numerous civic initiatives aimed at making political and social advances in Africa and the U.S., and building engagement between the two regions.
Johnson joined the political science faculty in 1964 as an assistant professor. He was the first Black faculty member at MIT to rise through the ranks and achieve tenure from within, and he created a broad portfolio of accomplishments. Johnson conducted extensive fieldwork in Africa, published important contributions to the study of African political institutions and independence movements, advocated for the inclusion of more Black scholars in the MIT community, and served as a leading voice at MIT and in the Boston area against South Africa’s apartheid.
*Professor Emeritus Willard R. Johnson, political scientist who specialized in African studies, dies at 87 | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bio/Obit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willard_Johnson_(political_scientist) https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/willard-johnson-41 https://baystatebanner.com/2023/12/06/willard-r-johnson-87/ https://projects.kora.matrix.msu.edu/app/files/210/808/7444/1600875913.willardjohnsonbiodocs.pdf
MIT https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10153660391301886 https://news.mit.edu/2023/willard-johnson-political-scientist-dies-1115 https://www.blackhistory.mit.edu/archive/willard-r-johnson-1964 archive: https://archivesspace.mit.edu/repositories/2/resources/1336
African freedom work panelist: https://www.c-span.org/video/?2746-1/aiding-africas-development TransAfrica Boston: https://africanactivist.msu.edu/record/210-849-27258/
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